‘Host’ posts U remake deal

Project is set up through Vertigo Entertainment and Gold Circle Films

Universal Pictures has bought worldwide English-language remake rights to “The Host,” a South Korean monster movie that this summer became the highest-grossing film of all time in Korea.

Remake project is set up through Roy Lee and Doug Davidson’s Vertigo Entertainment and Gold Circle Films. Producer credits at Universal go to exec VP Peter Cramer and David Ortiz.

“Host” was bought for North America by Magnolia Pictures. Movie, which preemed in May in the Directors Fortnight section of the Cannes fest, was released in July in Korea through local major Showbox and sold over 14 million tickets for a B.O. gross exceeding $84 million.

Producers have yet to set either a scripter or a helmer. Although the pic is a simple monster-cum-hostage move, the retread will likely need some tweaking. Korean story had social and political undertones that included sideswipes at the U.S., which has a large military presence in Korea.

Helmer Bong Joon-ho, whose credits include “Memories of Murder,” will next direct “La Transperceneige,” an English-language adaptation of a graphic novel.